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Anya Isaev: The First Woman From Dagestan To Appear On Dana White's Contender Series.



Anya Isaev is making history as the first female fighter from Dagestan to be featured on Dana White's Contender Series, officially beginning her professional MMA journey. While details about her upbringing remain scarce, she still has fans and analysts wondering—what can the MMA world expect from the first Dagestani female fighter? Only time will tell.

Anya Isaev Profile:

Name: Anya Isaev
Born: Buynaksk, Dagestan, Russia
Nationality: Russian
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 125 lbs
Division: Flyweight
Reach: 67"
Style: MMA

Get To Know Anya: Dagestani Fighter, Anya Isaev, Speaks With ESPN Ahead Of DWCS Debut On Tuesday



"Anya, you come from Buynaksk, Dagestan, a region known for producing world-class wrestlers. Can you talk about your upbringing and what led you to transition from wrestling to MMA?"

"Yes, Buynaksk, very small place. Many good wrestlers there.. We are tough people. My mother die when I very young age. My papa, he no want daughter. He want son, but I am here. He raise me like every boy in Dagestan, put me in wrestling. I wrestle with boys since young age, they smash me, but I learn fast. When I get older, my body change & they get stronger. Many people very upset to find out I'm girl but I don't quit. They outwrestle me because they are bigger, so I must learn different way to fight. I start train striking. I want to show, even girl from small Dagestan town can fight big level."

"We’ve heard stories about how you trained with boys growing up. Can you share what that experience was like and how it shaped you as a fighter?"

"Ahh, very hard, very crazy. Boys, they no like lose to girl, so they go harder, they want hurt me.. Punch me harder in the face. But I accept & get better. I train every day, I fight, I get much better. I can't stop. My papa say, ‘You want be real fighter? Then don’t cry.’ So I take losses against boys, but now, when I fight girl in cage, is nothing. Is easy."

"You had to develop your striking game after wrestling became a challenge against stronger male opponents. What was the biggest hurdle in learning to fight on your feet?"

"Oh, everything hard at first. In wrestling, you hold, control, no need for a big punch. Striking you must think fast, move your head, & not be scared. I love striking. I still wrestle, but now I know—I can knock opponent out."

"Coming from a culture where women in combat sports aren’t as common, was there resistance to your career choice, and how did you push past it?"

"Of course, big problem. In Dagestan, not normal for girl to fight. People say ‘Why you do this? Find husband, make family.’ But I am doing what I was born to do. Many Dagestan people do not believe in me, but is okay.. I believe in myself. I fight for me, I fight for my mother & papa. I fight to show little girls in my country—if they train hard & believe, they can do anything. No one can stop them. When someone try to stop me I smash them."

"Your MMA debut is coming up this Tuesday against Andrea Valdez, who is known as a dangerous kickboxer. How do you feel about the matchup?"

" I am ready. She good striker, yes, but she never fight someone like me. She punch, she kick, okay… but when I grab her? She go down. I respect her, she tough, but she not me. Tuesday, I show difference. I make her tired, I make her quit. This Dagestan woman time in MMA."

Anya Isaev vs. Andrea Valdez has sparked a lot of interest ahead of Tuesday's matchup. Who will come out on top & earn their spot on the UFC roster?